“Morning,” she returned, arms surrounding me.
Our embrace was swift, leaving me breathless. She smelled like a dream. A sweet, clean dream. Her fragrance was as refreshing as her presence.
“What are you wearing?”
“Something new, actually.”
“Huffington Fragrance House?”
She nodded. “I’m working my way through the new Discovery Palette, courtesy of Rugger.”
“I guess that’s what I get for not opening my package, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” She chuckled, handing me the cup of tea she’d promised. “Lyric–”
“Hm?”
“The fragrance from the palette is Lyric.”
“She’s lovely.”
“And, so is the new piece of jewelry on your finger. Are we keeping secrets now?”
I tucked my lips into my mouth as I shook my head.
“Um mm.”
“Then spill. You’re engaged?”
“No– not really– not quite.”
Silence toyed between my words.
“Range–”
I rolled my eyes, staring at the beautiful stone.
“Kason proposed, I guess.”
“That ring is nothing to guess about, wonder about… only a man with intentions to marry you will give you something even remotely close.”
The diamond was gorgeous. It was wrapped in smaller diamonds that were barely visible and a gold band that made it timeless.
“I thought you said you weren’t serious about him.”
“I’m not. Which makes this– I expressed that to him. He insisted I keep the ring and give him more time to prove he’s the man I need.”
“And–”
“I’m just not ready for the fun to end,” I admitted. “When I return this ring, it all stops and the silence gets the best of me again.”
“How does that make you feel?”
“Square one, babe. But, that’s life. A step forward, ten backward.”
“Yeah, in most cases,” Roaman agreed, taking steps in the opposite direction.
Duty called for us both; having a seat at her favorite tea bar wasn’t in our plans, but seeing each other was. So, we decided to take our tea on the road.
